Result overview
-
Sweet pepper yield was improved by 12% with volcanic rock growing media and by 5.9%
with perlite as compared with Rockwool (control).
-
The yield of sweet pepper plants grown in date palm waste formed between 88.2 to
90.7% of Rockwool yield (control).
-
The lowest water consumption was recorded when using perlite (8.2%) as compared with
Rockwool (control).
-
Perlite and volcanic rock improved water use efficiency by 15.3% and 10.4%,
respectively, compared to Rockwool (control).
-
Water use efficiency of date palm waste ranged between 6.7 to 9.7% less than
Rockwool.
Physical and Chemical Properties of the Different Soilless Growing Media.
| Physical Properties |
| Items |
Date Palm Waste |
Volcanic Rock |
Rockwool |
Perlite |
| Water Holding Capacity (%) |
70 |
60 |
98 |
80 |
| Bulk Density (g/cm3) |
0.25 |
1.06 |
0.04 |
0.21 |
| Organic Matter (%) |
22.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| EC (ds/m) |
4.6 |
0.013 |
0.015 |
0.12 |
| CEC (Coml/kg) |
37.5 |
9.5 |
0 |
0 |
| pH |
6.7 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
| Weight of (16 L) slab in kg |
3 |
12.3 |
0.7 |
3.4 |
| Chemical Properties |
| Items |
Date Palm Waste |
Volcanic Rock |
Rockwool |
Perlite |
| N (%) |
21.9 |
13.2 |
9.1 |
8.5 |
| P (%) |
18.9 |
101.9 |
80.8 |
131 |
| K (Cmol/kg) |
16.4 |
0.8 |
3.7 |
0.8 |
| Mg (Cmol/kg) |
12.9 |
2 |
4.4 |
7 |
| Ca (Cmol/kg) |
26.1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
| Na (Cmol/kg) |
3.53 |
8.4 |
3.1 |
5 |
| Fe (mg/L)) |
2.9 |
72.7 |
14.1 |
440.9 |
| Mn (mg/L) |
0.3 |
5.6 |
0.3 |
48.6 |
| Zn (mg/L) |
0.88 |
0.89 |
0.33 |
4.28 |
| Cu (mg/L) |
0.22 |
0.07 |
0.1 |
3.44 |
Sweet Pepper Marketable Yield and Yield Component were Grown in Different Soilless Growing
Media in Med-Tech Greenhouse, 2019.
|
| Substrate |
Fruit Yield (Kg/m2) |
Avg. Fruit/m2 (numbers) |
Avg. Fruit Weight (gm) |
Avg. Fruit Length (mm) |
Avg. Fruit Diameter (mm) |
Avg. Fruit Pulp Thickness (mm) |
| Rockwool |
11.9 |
74 |
160.5 |
87.8 |
79.6 |
8.5 |
| Volcanic Rock |
13.3 |
79 |
168.5 |
91.4 |
75.4 |
8.1 |
| Perlite |
8.1 |
78 |
160.8 |
91.7 |
71.5 |
7.4 |
| Date Palm Waste (8mm) |
10.8 |
68 |
160.8 |
91.0 |
75.8 |
8.2 |
| Date Palm Waste (12mm) |
10.5 |
66 |
167.3 |
89.0 |
72.1 |
7.4 |
| Date Palm Waste (25mm) |
10.6 |
68 |
156.1 |
87.3 |
75.9 |
8.6 |
Data within columns having different letters are significantly different at p less than 0.05
Water Use Efficiency (L/kg fruit) for Sweet Pepper Grown in Different Growing Media in
Med-Tech. Greenhouse. Estidamah, 2019.
Conclusions
-
Volcanic rock and date palm waste could be used as growing media in soilless culture in
Saudi Arabia instead of imported Rockwool because these materials are locally available
and cheaper in price.
-
Although volcanic rock is a heavy material, it can be used for several years in contrast
to perlite (light material) which can be used for one growing season only.
-
Date palm waste can be used for one growing season, without any negative impact on the
environment.